❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health about increasing elective surgery wait times. The Minister acknowledges COVID-related challenges but asserts WA's strong position compared to other states and ongoing efforts to manage waitlists.
AnsweredQoN 349Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTIVE SURGERY
349. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the elective surgery monthly report for May 2022, which shows that 33 206
Western Australians are waiting for their surgery. Given that the number
of people who are waiting has risen by 11 per cent in the last 12 months and an
astounding 67 per cent since 2017, when will the minister take responsibility
for this issue and allow Western Australians to have the surgery they need when
they need it?
349. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the elective surgery monthly report for May 2022, which shows that 33 206
Western Australians are waiting for their surgery. Given that the number
of people who are waiting has risen by 11 per cent in the last 12 months and an
astounding 67 per cent since 2017, when will the minister take responsibility
for this issue and allow Western Australians to have the surgery they need when
they need it?
AnswerView source ↗
The member for Vasse may be aware
that we are certainly still experiencing a significant COVID surge in our
community. The number of people waiting for elective surgery is certainly being
worked through by every hospital around the state that can perform elective
surgery. Western Australia has some of the best waiting times for elective
surgery around the country. The average number of days before a category 1
patient is seen has risen by one day in the last two or three years, and they
are still being seen within the clinically appropriate time. It is not how many
people are on the waiting list, it is how long they wait that matters. There
was a temporary, short pause when we experienced our COVID surge. If members
compare that to what happened in Victoria, in particular, over the last 18
months, it will have years of catch up to do, but Western Australia is in a good
position to manage its elective surgery waitlists. We are seeing priority 1
patients within the recommended time. There have been significant furloughing
issues across the system. The reality is that the system is still experiencing
significant furloughing.
Having said that, our response to
managing COVID in the community has been so strong that we have been able to
bring elective surgery back on during the COVID surge. We are doing elective
surgery now, while other states completely
stopped it. Theatre nurses are on furlough. Surgeons are on furlough. Lists are
changing every day. I take full
responsibility for what happens, because that is the system that we work in. We
watch all those lists carefully. We work regularly with hospitals and health
service providers on the plans for those lists. The member said that the
hospitals are not lifting; they are lifting and people are getting through. We
are in a very good position to manage those lists.
that we are certainly still experiencing a significant COVID surge in our
community. The number of people waiting for elective surgery is certainly being
worked through by every hospital around the state that can perform elective
surgery. Western Australia has some of the best waiting times for elective
surgery around the country. The average number of days before a category 1
patient is seen has risen by one day in the last two or three years, and they
are still being seen within the clinically appropriate time. It is not how many
people are on the waiting list, it is how long they wait that matters. There
was a temporary, short pause when we experienced our COVID surge. If members
compare that to what happened in Victoria, in particular, over the last 18
months, it will have years of catch up to do, but Western Australia is in a good
position to manage its elective surgery waitlists. We are seeing priority 1
patients within the recommended time. There have been significant furloughing
issues across the system. The reality is that the system is still experiencing
significant furloughing.
Having said that, our response to
managing COVID in the community has been so strong that we have been able to
bring elective surgery back on during the COVID surge. We are doing elective
surgery now, while other states completely
stopped it. Theatre nurses are on furlough. Surgeons are on furlough. Lists are
changing every day. I take full
responsibility for what happens, because that is the system that we work in. We
watch all those lists carefully. We work regularly with hospitals and health
service providers on the plans for those lists. The member said that the
hospitals are not lifting; they are lifting and people are getting through. We
are in a very good position to manage those lists.
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